Absorbent articles having channel-forming areas and wetness indicator

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having at least two longitudinally extending channel-forming areas and a wetness indicator. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side, which are attached to each other through areas substantially free of absorbent material, so that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material. The wetness indicator is placed between the channel-forming areas or between at least one channel-forming area and at least one longitudinally extending side edge of the article, as seen for the exterior of the article.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed at absorbent articles such as, but not limited to, baby diapers, training pants and adult incontinence products comprising channel-forming areas and a wetness indicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Absorbent articles for personal hygiene of the type indicated above are designed to absorb and contain body exudates, in particular large quantity of urine. These absorbent articles comprise several layers providing different functions, for example a topsheet, a backsheet and in-between an absorbent core, among other layers. The function of the absorbent core is typically to absorb and retain the exudates for a prolonged amount of time, minimize re-wet to keep the wearer dry and avoid soiling of clothes or bed sheets.

The majority of currently marketed absorbent articles comprise as absorbent material a blend of comminuted wood pulp with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in particulate form, also called absorbent gelling materials (AGM), see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,092 (Buell). Absorbent articles having a core consisting essentially of SAP as absorbent material (so called “airfelt-free” cores) have also been proposed (see e.g. WO2008/155699 (Hundorf), WO95/11652 (Tanzer), WO2012/052172 (Van Malderen)). Absorbent cores with slits or grooves have also been proposed, typically to increase the fluid acquisition properties of the core or to act as a folding guide.

WO2012/170778 (Rosati et al., see also WO2012/170779, WO2012/170781 and WO2012/170808) discloses absorbent structures that comprise superabsorbent polymers, optionally a cellulosic material, and at least a pair of substantially longitudinally extending channels. The core wrap can be adhesively bonded through the channels to form a channel bond, whose integrity is at least partially maintained both in dry and wet state. As the absorbent structure absorbs liquid and swells, the absorbent structure takes a three-dimensional shape with the channels becoming visible. The channels are indicated to provide improved fit and/or better liquid acquisition/transportation, and/or improved performance throughout the use of the absorbent structure.

The absorbent structures of the type disclosed above having channel-forming areas formed by attaching both sides of the core wrap through absorbent material free areas in the core have excellent wet fit properties. Indeed, whereas in conventional absorbent cores the weight of the absorbed fluid pulls the central part of the article down and causes a loaded diaper to sag significantly between the legs of the wearer, the core wrap bonds within the absorbent material area have been found to create longitudinal tension in the core that maintains the absorbent article in an upward state even when a significant amount of fluid has been absorbed. The inventors have now found that this effect may be detrimental for caregivers, which have learnt to associate the sagging of the article between the legs of the wearer with a high level of absorbed fluid and a signal for changing the article. Indeed due to the very high wet fit of the new absorbent structures, the caregivers may not recognize that it is time to change the articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the unexpected problem as indicated above by providing an absorbent article as defined in the claims. The absorbent article, such as a diaper or a training pant, comprises a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core. A core wrap encloses the absorbent material comprising superabsorbent polymer particles, in particular high amount of SAP such as in an airfelt-free core. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side. The absorbent core comprises at least two longitudinally extending areas substantially free of absorbent material through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap, so that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid such as urine, the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material. The absorbent article further comprises a wetness indicator placed, when seen from the exterior of the article, between the two channel-forming areas and/or between any of the channel-forming areas and any of the longitudinally extending side edges of the article. The wetness indicator changes appearance when contacted with urine and may comprise an appearing signal, a disappearing signal or a color change signal that changes appearance when contacted with urine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary absorbent article in the form a taped diaper according to the invention with some layers partially removed;

FIG. 2 is a transversal cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transversal cross-section of the article taken at the same point as FIG. 2 where channels have formed in the core as a result of the diaper being loaded with a liquid such as urine;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an exemplary absorbent core that may be used in the absorbent article according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a transversal cross-section of the core of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of the core of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of a part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the taped diaper of FIG. 1 as it may appear when worn before loading;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the taped diaper of FIG. 8 after it has been loaded with a liquid.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a taped diaper having two wetness indicators placed between each of the lateral edge of the article and the corresponding closest channel, as it may appear when worn before loading;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a taped diaper combining the wetness indicators of FIGS. 9 and 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION General Description of the Article 20

As used herein, the term “absorbent articles” refers to disposable products for personal hygiene such as baby diapers, infant training pants or adult incontinence products and the like which are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain exudates discharged from the body, in particular urine. The absorbent articles of the invention will be further illustrated in the below description and in the Figures in the form of a taped diaper. Nothing in this description should be however considered limiting the scope of the claims unless explicitly indicated otherwise.

The absorbent article will now be generally discussed and further illustrated in the form of a baby diaper 20 as exemplarily represented in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the exemplary diaper 20, in a flattened state, with portions of the structure being cut-away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20. This diaper 20 is shown for illustration purpose only as the invention may be used for making a wide variety of diapers or other absorbent articles.

The absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet 24, a liquid impermeable backsheet 25, and an absorbent core 28 between the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 25. An optional acquisition and/or distribution layer 54 is represented on the diaper of FIG. 1-2, which also shows other typical taped diaper components such as a fastening system comprising adhesive tabs 42 attached towards the back edge of the article and cooperating with a landing zone 44 on the front of the article, barrier leg cuffs 34 and elasticized gasketing cuffs 32 joined to the chassis of the absorbent article, typically via the topsheet and/or backsheet, and substantially planar with the chassis of the diaper. The absorbent article may also comprise other typical components, which are not represented, such as a back elastic waist feature, a front elastic waist feature, transverse barrier cuff(s), a lotion application, etc. . . . .

The absorbent article 20 comprises a front edge 10, a back edge 12, and two longitudinally extending side edges 13, 14. The front edge 10 of the article is the edge which is intended to be placed towards the front of the user when worn, and the back edge 12 is the opposite edge of the article. The absorbent article may be notionally divided by a longitudinal axis 80 extending from the front edge to the back edge of the article and dividing the article in two substantially symmetrical halves relative to this axis, when the article is placed flat and viewed from above as in FIG. 1. The length L of the article can be measured along the longitudinal axis 80 from front edge 10 to back edge 12. The article comprises a crotch point C defined herein as the point placed on the longitudinal axis at a distance of two fifth (⅖) of L starting from the front edge 10 of the article 20. The width of the article for a diaper application at the crotch point may in particular be of from 50 mm to 300 mm, or from 80 mm to 250 mm. For adult incontinence products the width may go up to 450 mm. The length L of the article such as a diaper may typically vary from 200 mm to 600 mm depending on the targeted wearers.

The crotch region can be defined as the region of the diaper longitudinally centered at the crotch point C and extending towards the front and towards the back of the absorbent article by a distance of one fifth of L (L/5) in each direction. A front region and a back region can be defined as the remaining portions of the diapers placed respectively towards the front and the back edges of the article.

The topsheet 24, the backsheet 25, the absorbent core 28 and the other article components may be assembled in a variety of well known configurations, in particular by gluing or heat embossing. Exemplary diaper configurations are described generally in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003, U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,274, U.S. Pa. No. 5,554,145, U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,234, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,411, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,306. The absorbent article is preferably thin. The caliper at the crotch point C of the article may be for example from 3.0 mm to 12.0 mm, in particular from 4.0 mm to 10.0 mm, as measured with the Absorbent Article Caliper Test described herein.

For most absorbent articles, the liquid discharge occurs predominately in the front half of the article, in particular for diaper. The front half of the article (as defined by the region between the front edge and a transversal line 90 placed at a distance of half L from the front or back edge may therefore comprise most of the absorbent capacity of the core. Thus, at least 60% of the superabsorbent polymer (“SAP”) comprised in the core, or at least 65%, 70%, 75% or 80% of the SAP, may be present in the front half of the absorbent article, the remaining SAP being disposed in the back half of the absorbent article.

The absorbent article may have an acquisition time for the first gush of less than 30 s, preferably less than 27 s, as measured according to the Flat Acquisition test method set out in WO2012/174026A1. This acquisition time may be in measured in particular on a baby diaper which is designated for wearers having a weight in the range of 8 to 13 kg±20% (such as Pampers Active Fit size 4 or other Pampers baby diapers size 4, Huggies baby diapers size 4 or baby diapers size 4 of most other tradenames).

The different components of the absorbent article in particular the absorbent core and the wetness indicator will now be further discussed and exemplified below.

General Description of the Absorbent Core 28

The absorbent core is typically the component of the article having the most absorbent capacity. An exemplary absorbent core 28 of the invention before use (in a dry state) is shown in isolation in FIGS. 4-6. The absorbent core shown and its description are purely for exemplary purpose and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, unless otherwise stated, the cross-sections view being schematic and magnified in the vertical direction to better show the different layers.

The absorbent core of the invention comprises a core wrap (16, 16′) enclosing an absorbent material, and may also comprise at least one adhesive. The absorbent material 60 may typically comprise a superabsorbent polymer (“SAP”) in particulate forms. The absorbent material may comprise relatively high amount of SAP enclosed within the core wrap. By “absorbent material” it is meant a material which has some absorbency property or liquid retaining properties, such as SAP and cellulosic fibers. Typically, adhesives used in making absorbent cores have no absorbency properties and are not considered as absorbent material. The absorbent core may for example be made on-line and assembled directly with the remaining components of the article or may be off-line at another site and transported to the converting line.

The absorbent core typically comprises a front side 280, a back side 282 and two longitudinally extending lateral sides 284, 286 joining the front side 280 and the back side 282. The absorbent core also comprises a generally planar top side 288 and a generally planar bottom side 290 formed by the core wrap. The front side 280 of the core is the side of the core intended to be placed towards the front edge 10 of the absorbent article. The core may have a longitudinal axis 80′ corresponding substantially to the longitudinal axis of the article 80, as seen from the top in a planar view as in FIG. 1. Typically the absorbent material will be advantageously distributed in higher amount towards the front side and middle portion of the core than towards the back side as more absorbency is required at the front. Typically the front and back sides of the core are shorter than the longitudinal sides of the core.

The core wrap may be formed by two substrates 16, 16′, typically nonwoven material which may be at least partially sealed along the sides of the absorbent core. The first nonwoven 16 may substantially form the top side 288 of the core wrap and the second nonwoven 16′ substantially the bottom side 290 of the core wrap. The core wrap may be at least partially sealed along its front side, back side and/or two longitudinal sides to improve the containment of the absorbent material during use. A C-wrap seal may be for example provided on the longitudinal sides 284, 286 of the core as shown on FIG. 5 if improved containment is desired.

The absorbent core 28 comprises at least two areas 26 which are substantially free of absorbent material and through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap along a bond 27. When the absorbent material absorbs a liquid, it swells in proportion and the core wrap gradually forms a three-dimensional channel 26′ along the bonded area 26 substantially free of absorbent material.

The length L″ of the absorbent core 28 as measured along it axis 80′ from the front side 280 to the back side 282 should be adapted for the intended article in which it will be used. For infant diapers, the length L″ may for example range from 50 to 400 mm. The absorbent core comprises a virtual crotch point C′ defined as the point of the core corresponding vertically to the crotch point C of the absorbent article in which the absorbent core is integrated. The crotch point C′ may typically be on the longitudinal axis 80′ of the core. The absorbent core may be thin, for example having a thickness not exceeding 5 mm, e.g. from 0.2 mm to 4 mm, in particular from 0.5 to 3 mm, as measured with the Dry Absorbent Core Caliper Test disclosed therein, in particular at the crotch point C′ or any other points of the absorbent core. The individual components of the absorbent core will now be described in further details.

Core Wrap (16, 16′)

The function of the core wrap is to enclose the absorbent material. Typical core wraps comprise two substrates 16, 16′ which are attached to another, but the core wrap may also be made of a single substrate folded around the absorbent material, or may comprises several substrates. When two substrates are used, these may be typically attached to another along at least part of the periphery of the absorbent core to form a seal. Typically neither first nor second substrates need to be shaped, so that they can be rectangularly cut for ease of production but other shapes are not excluded.

The substrates are advantageously attached to another to form a seal along all the edges of the core. Typical seals are the so-called C-wrap and sandwich wrap. In a C-wrap, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5 for the longitudinally extending lateral side seals of the core, one of the substrate, e.g. the first substrate 16, has flaps extending over the opposed edges of the core which are then folded over the other substrate. These flaps are bonded to the external surface of the other substrate, typically by gluing. This so called C-wrap construction can provide benefits such as improved resistance to bursting in a wet loaded state compared to a sandwich seal.

The front side 280 and back side 282 of the core wrap may then also be sealed for example by gluing the first substrate and second substrate to another to provide complete enclosing of the absorbent material across the whole of the periphery of the core. As shown on FIG. 6 for the front side and back side of the core, the first and second substrate may extend and be joined together in a substantially planar direction, forming a so-called sandwich construction. In the so-called sandwich seal construction, the first and second substrates both have material extension outwardly of the absorbent material deposition area which are then sealed flat along the whole or parts of the periphery of the core typically by gluing and/or heat/pressure bonding.

The terms “seal” and “enclosing” are to be understood in a broad sense. The seal does not need to be continuous along the whole periphery of the core wrap but may be discontinuous along part or the whole of it, such as formed by a series of seal points spaced on a line. Typically a seal may be formed by gluing and/or thermal bonding. The core wrap may also be formed by a single substrate which may enclose the absorbent material as in a parcel wrap and be for example sealed along the front side and back side of the core and one longitudinally extending seal.

The core wrap may be formed by any materials suitable for enclosing the absorbent material. Typical substrate materials used in the production of conventional cores may be used, in particular nonwovens but also paper, tissues, films, wovens, or laminate of any of these. The core wrap may in particular be formed by a nonwoven web, such as a carded nonwoven, a spunbond nonwoven (“S”) or a meltblown nonwoven (“M”), and laminates of any of these. For example spunmelt polypropylene nonwovens are suitable, in particular those having a laminate web SMS, or SMMS, or SSMMS, structure, and having a basis weight range of about 5 gsm to 15 gsm. Suitable materials are for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,576, US2011/0268932A1, US2011/0319848A1 or US2011/0250413A1. Nonwoven materials provided from synthetic fibers may be used, such as PE, PET and in particular PP.

A “nonwoven web” as used herein means a manufactured sheet, web or batting of directionally or randomly orientated fibers, bonded by friction, and/or cohesion and/or adhesion, excluding paper and products which are woven, knitted, tufted, stitch-bonded incorporating binding yarns or filaments, or felted by wet-milling, whether or not additionally needled. The fibers may be of natural or man-made origin and may be staple or continuous filaments or be formed in situ. Commercially available fibers have diameters ranging from less than about 0.001 mm to more than about 0.2 mm and they come in several different forms such as short fibers (known as staple, or chopped), continuous single fibers (filaments or monofilaments), untwisted bundles of continuous filaments (tow), and twisted bundles of continuous filaments (yarn). Nonwoven webs can be formed by many processes such as meltblowing, spunbonding, solvent spinning, electrospinning, carding and airlaying. The basis weight of nonwoven webs is usually expressed in grams per square meter (g/m² or gsm).

If the core wrap comprises a first substrate 16 and a second substrate 16′ these may be made of the same type of material, or may be made of different materials or one of the substrate may be treated differently than the other to provide it with different properties. As the polymers used for nonwoven production are typically inherently hydrophobic, they may be treated with an hydrophilic coating if placed on the fluid receiving side of the absorbent core. It is advantageous that the top side 288 of the core wrap, i.e. the side placed closer to the wearer in the absorbent article, be more hydrophilic than the bottom side 290 of the core wrap. Typically a composition comprising a surfactant may be sprayed on the substrate to be made more hydrophillic. A possible way to produce nonwovens with durably hydrophilic coatings is via applying a hydrophilic monomer and a radical polymerization initiator onto the nonwoven, and conducting a polymerization activated via UV light resulting in monomer chemically bound to the surface of the nonwoven. An alternative possible way to produce nonwovens with durably hydrophilic coatings is to coat the nonwoven with hydrophilic nanoparticles, e.g. as described in WO 02/064877.

Permanently hydrophilic nonwovens are also useful in some embodiments. Surface tension can be used to measure how permanently a certain hydrophilicity level is achieved. Liquid strike through can be used to measure the hydrophilicity level. The first and/or second substrate may in particular have a surface tension of at least 55, preferably at least 60 and most preferably at least 65 mN/m or higher when being wetted with saline solution. The substrate may also have a liquid strike through time of less than 5 seconds for a fifth gush of liquid. These values can be measured using the test methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,576B2 (Busam et al.): “Determination Of Surface Tension” and “Determination of Strike Through” respectively.

Hydrophilicity and wettability are typically defined in terms of contact angle and the strike through time of the fluids, for example through a nonwoven fabric. This is discussed in detail in the American Chemical Society publication entitled “Contact angle, wettability and adhesion”, edited by Robert F. Gould (Copyright 1964). A substrate having a lower contact angle between the water and the surface of substrate may be said to be more hydrophilic than another.

The substrates may also be air-permeable. Films useful herein may therefore comprise micro-pores. The substrate may have for example an air-permeability of from 40 or from 50, to 300 or to 200 m³/(m²×min), as determined by EDANA method 140-1-99 (125 Pa, 38.3 cm²). The material of the core wrap may alternatively have a lower air-permeability, e.g. being non-air-permeable, for example to facilitate handling on a moving surface comprising vacuum.

Absorbent Material 60 and Absorbent Material Deposition Area 8

The absorbent core 28 comprises an absorbent material 60 within the core wrap. The absorbent material may be for example deposited as a continuous layer within the core wrap. The absorbent material may also be present discontinuously for example as individual pockets or stripes of absorbent material enclosed within the core wrap and separated from each other by material-free junction areas. A continuous layer of absorbent material, in particular of SAP, may also be obtained by combining two absorbent layers having matching discontinuous absorbent material application pattern wherein the resulting layer is substantially continuously distributed across the absorbent particulate polymer material area. As for example taught in US2008/0312622A1 (Hundorf), each absorbent material layer may thus comprise a pattern having absorbent material land areas and absorbent material-free junction areas, wherein the absorbent material land areas of the first layer correspond substantially to the absorbent material-free junction areas of the second layer and vice versa. As illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, the absorbent core 28 may thus comprise a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer, the first absorbent layer comprising a first substrate 16 and a first layer 61 of absorbent material, which may be 100% SAP, and the second absorbent layer comprising a second substrate 16′ and a second layer 62 of absorbent material, which may also be 100% SAP. The first and second SAP layers may be applied as transversal stripes or “land areas” having the same width as the desired absorbent material deposition area 8 on their respective substrate before being combined. The stripes may advantageously comprise different amount of absorbent material to provide a profiled basis weight along the longitudinal axis and/or transversal axis of the core 80′, as shown on FIG. 6. The first substrate 16 and the second substrate 16′ may form the core wrap. An auxiliary glue 71, 72 may be applied between one or both substrates and the absorbent layers, as well as microfiber glue 51 on each absorbent layer.

The absorbent material deposition area 8 can be defined by the periphery of the layer formed by the absorbent material 60 within the core wrap, as seen from the top side of the absorbent core as shown on FIG. 4. The absorbent material deposition area 8 can be generally rectangular, for example as shown in FIG. 4, but other shapes can also be used such as a “T” or “Y” or “sand-hour” or “dog-bone” shape. In particular the deposition area may which show a tapering along its width towards the crotch region of the core. In this way, the absorbent material deposition area may have a relatively narrow width in an area of the core intended to be placed in the crotch region of the absorbent article. This may provide for example better wearing comfort. The absorbent material deposition area 8 may thus have a width (as measured in the transversal direction) at its narrowest point which is less than about 100 mm, 90 mm, 80 mm, 70 mm, 60 mm or even less than about 50 mm. This narrowest width may further be for example at least 5 mm, or at least 10 mm, smaller than the width of the deposition area at its largest point in the front and/or back regions of the deposition area 8.

The basis weight (amount deposited per unit of surface) of the SAP may also be varied along the deposition area 8 to create a profiled distribution of absorbent material, in particular SAP, in the longitudinal direction (as shown in FIG. 6), in the transversal direction, or both directions of the core. Hence along the longitudinal axis of the core, the basis weight of absorbent material may vary, as well as along the transversal axis, or any axis parallel to any of these axes. The basis weight of SAP in area of relatively high basis weight may thus be for example at least 10%, or 20%, or 30%, or 40%, or 50% higher than in an area of relatively low basis weight. In particular the SAP present in the absorbent material deposition area at the longitudinal position of the crotch point C′ may have more SAP per unit of surface deposited as compared to another area of the absorbent material deposition area 8.

The absorbent material may be deposited using known techniques, which may allow relatively precise deposition of SAP at relatively high speed. Various absorbent core designs comprising high amount of SAP have been proposed in the past, see for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,335 (Goldman), EP1,447,066 (Busam), WO95/11652 (Tanzer), US2008/0312622A1 (Hundorf), WO2012/052172 (Van Malderen) and in particular WO2012/170778 (Rosati et al., see also WO2012/170779, WO2012/170781 and WO2012/170808). In particular the SAP printing technology as disclosed for example in US2006/024433 (Blessing), US2008/0312617 and US2010/0051166A1 (both to Hundorf et al.) may be used. This technique uses a transfer device such as a printing roll to deposit SAP particles onto a substrate disposed on a grid of a support which may include a plurality of cross bars extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another so as to form ribs extending between the plurality of cross-bars. This technology allows high-speed and precise deposition of SAP on a substrate in particular to provide the areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material surrounded by absorbent material through which the bonding of the core wrap can be performed. These areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material can be formed for example by modifying the pattern of the grid and receiving drums so that no SAP is applied in the selected areas, as exemplary disclosed in US2012/0312491 (Jackels).

Superabsorbent Polymer Particles (SAP)

The absorbent material 60 comprises superabsorbent polymer in particulate forms. “Superabsorbent polymers” or “SAP” as used herein refer to absorbent material which are cross-linked polymeric materials that can absorb at least 10 times their weight of an aqueous 0.9% saline solution as measured using the Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) test (EDANA method WSP 241.2-05E). These polymers are typically used in particulate forms so as to be flowable in the dry state. The term “particles” refers to granules, fibers, flakes, spheres, powders, platelets and other shapes and forms known to persons skilled in the art of superabsorbent polymer particles.

The SAP content may represent at least 70% or more (in particular at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% and up to 100%) by weight of the absorbent material enclosed in the core wrap. The core wrap itself is not considered as absorbent material for the purpose of assessing the percentage of SAP in the absorbent core. High amount of SAP provides a relatively thin core compared to conventional core typically comprising between 40-60% by weight of cellulose fibers. The absorbent material may in particular comprises less than 10% weight percent of natural or synthetic fibers, or less than 5% weight percent, or even be substantially free of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The absorbent material may advantageously comprise little or no airfelt (cellulose) fibers, in particular the absorbent core may comprise less than 15%, 10%, 5% airfelt (cellulose) fibers by weight of the absorbent core, or even be substantially free of cellulose fibers.

Typical particulate absorbent polymer materials are made of poly(meth)acrylic acid polymers. However, e.g. starch-based particulate absorbent polymer material may also be used, as well polyacrylamide copolymer, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, cross-linked carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, cross-linked polyethylene oxide, and starch grafted copolymer of polyacrylonitrile. The superabsorbent polymer may be polyacrylates and polyacrylic acid polymers that are internally and/or surface cross-linked. The superabsorbent polymers can be internally cross-linked, i.e. the polymerization is carried out in the presence of compounds having two or more polymerizable groups which can be free-radically copolymerized into the polymer network. Exemplary superabsorbent polymer particles of the prior art are for example described in WO2006/083584, WO2007/047598, WO2007/046052, WO2009/155265, WO2009/155264.

SAPs are often characterized by their properties as defined by various parameters. For embodiments having more than one type of superabsorbent polymer particles, the parameters can be measured on the mixture of the more than one type of superabsorbent polymer particles present in their respective proportion as used in the absorbent core.

The SAP used in the core of the invention may for example have a time to reach an uptake of 20 g/g (T20) of less than 240 s as measured by the K(t) test method described in WO2012/174,026A1. The SAP may in particular have a T20 of less than 220 s, or less than 200 s, or less than 180 s, or less than 160 s. The K(t) method is also useful to determine other SAP parameters, which may also be advantageously used in the present invention. The uptake of the SAP at 20 min (U20) may be in particular of at least 22 g/g, or at least 24 g/g, or at least 28 g/g or at least 30 g/g, or of from 28 g/g to 60 g/g, or of from 30 g/g to 50 g/g, or of from 30 g/g to 40 g/g as measured according to the K(t) test method disclosed in WO2012/174,026A1. The SAP may have an effective permeability at 20 minutes (K20) of at least 5·10⁻⁸ cm², or at least 7·10⁻⁸ cm², or at least 8.5·10⁻⁸ cm², or of 5·10⁻⁸ cm² to 1·10⁻⁶ cm², or of 7·10⁻⁸ cm² to 5·10⁻⁷ cm², or of 8.5·10⁻⁸ to 1·10⁻⁷ cm² as measured according to the K(t) test method.

The superabsorbent polymer particles may further have a permeability at equilibrium expressed as UPM (Urine Permeability Measurement) value of more than 40, or preferably more than 50, or more than 60, or of 50 to 500, or of 55 to 200, or of 60 to 150 UPM units, where 1 UPM unit is 1×10⁻⁷ (cm³.s)/g. The UPM value is measured according to the UPM Test method set out in WO2012/174,026A1. This method is closely related to the SFC test method of the prior art. The UPM Test method typically measures the flow resistance of a preswollen layer of superabsorbent polymer particles, i.e. the flow resistance is measured at equilibrium. Therefore, such superabsorbent polymer particles having a high UPM value exhibit a high permeability when a significant volume of the absorbent article is already wetted by the liquid exudates. These embodiments exhibit good absorption properties not only at the first gush but also at the subsequent gushes.

The SAP used may also have a FSR (Free Swell Rate) of more than 0.1 g/g/s, or of from 0.1 to 2 g/g/s, or 0.3 to 1 g/g/s, or 0.3 to 0.6 g/g/s, or 0.4 to 0.6 g/g/s. The Free Swell Rate of the SAP is measured according to the FSR test method set out in WO2012/174,026A1. SAP having high free swell rate values will be able to absorb liquid quickly under no confining pressure. Contrary to the K(t) test method, no external pressure is applied to the gel bed in order to measure the free swell rate. SAP having a too low FSR value may require more than 240 s to reach an uptake of 20 g/g as measured according to the K(t) test method of the present invention and will consequently not be able to absorb the liquid exudates as fast as necessary. However, as stated above, superabsorbent polymer particles having a high FSR value do not automatically lead to high uptake values as measured according to the K(t) test method.

The SAP may have a CRC (centrifuge retention capacity) value of more than 18 g/g, or more than 20 g/g, or more than 22 g/g, or more than 24 g/g, for example up to 50 g/g, or up to 40 g/g, or to 30 g/g, as measured according to EDANA method WSP 241.2-05. The CRC measures the liquid absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer particles for free swelling in excess liquid. Superabsorbent polymer particles having a high CRC value may be preferred since less superabsorbent polymer particles are needed to facilitate a required overall capacity for liquid absorption.

The total amount of SAP present in the absorbent core may also vary according to expected user of the article. Diapers for newborns require less SAP than infant or adult incontinence diapers. The amount of SAP in the core may be for example comprised from about 2 to 50 g, in particular from 5 to 25 g for typical enfant diapers. The average SAP basis weight within the (or “at least one”, if several are present) deposition area 8 of the SAP may be for example of at least 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 or more g/m². The material free areas 26 present in the absorbent material deposition area 8 are deduced from the absorbent material deposition area to calculate this average basis weight.

Channing-Forming Areas 26 and Channels 26′

The absorbent cores of the invention comprise at least two areas longitudinally extending channel-forming areas 26 which are substantially free of absorbent material. By “substantially free” it is meant that in each of these areas the basis weight of the absorbent material is at least less than 25%, in particular at least less than 20% or less than 10%, of the average basis weight of the absorbent material in the rest of the absorbent material deposition area 8. In particular there can be no absorbent material in these areas. Minimal amount such as involuntary contaminations with absorbent material that may occur during the making process are not considered as absorbent material. The areas 26 are advantageously surrounded by the absorbent material, when seen in the plane of the core as seen on FIG. 4, which means that the areas 26 does not extend to any of the edge of the deposition area 8 of the absorbent material. The areas 26, may comprise

The top side 16 of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side 16′ of the core wrap by core wrap bonds 27 through the areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material as shown on FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the absorbent material swells upon absorbing a liquid, the core wrap bond 27 remains at least initially attached in the substantially material free areas 26. The absorbent material swells in the rest of the core when it absorbs a liquid, so that the core wrap forms a three dimensional channel 26′a, 26′b along each area 26 a, 26 b substantially free of absorbent material where the core wrap bond 27 is present. These channels 26′ can distribute an insulting fluid along their length to a wider area of the core and thus provide a quicker fluid acquisition speed and a better utilization of the absorbent capacity of the core. As the absorbent material swells, the channels become deeper and deep enough (a depth of several mm, e.g. at least 3 mm, as measured on the swollen core) to be visible from the exterior of the article through the backsheet. The channels 26′ can also provide a deformation of an overlying layer such as a fibrous layer 54 and provide corresponding ditches 29 in the overlying layer. It is not excluded that the absorbent core may comprise other area(s) substantially free of absorbent material but without a core wrap bond, but these non-bonded areas will typically not form a channel when wet.

The top side 288 and the bottom side 290 of the core wrap may be attached together continuously along the areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material, but the core wrap bond 27 may also be discontinuous (intermittent) such as series of point bonds. Typically, an adhesive can be used to attach the top side to the bottom side of the core wrap through the areas 26, but it is also possible to bond via other known attachment means, such as pressure bonding, ultrasonic bonding or heat bonding or combination thereof. The attachment of the top side and bottom side of the core wrap may be provided by one or more adhesive material, in particular one or more layers of auxiliary glue 71, 72 and/or one or more layers of fibrous adhesive material 51, if present in the core, as detailed below. These glues may therefore serve the dual function of immobilizing the absorbent material and attach the top side and the bottom side of the core together. The auxiliary glue(s) may be applied by slot coating in a series of thin (e.g. 1 mm wide) glue slots in the longitudinal direction.

The following are examples of shape and size of channel-forming areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material, but are not limiting the scope of the invention. In general, the core wrap bond 27 may have the same outline but be slightly smaller than the areas 26 due to the tolerance required in some manufacturing process. The channel-forming areas 26 may be present within the crotch region of the article, in particular at least at the same longitudinal level as the crotch point C, as represented in FIG. 1 by the two longitudinally extending areas substantially free of absorbent material 26 a and 26 b. The absorbent core 28 may also comprise more than two substantially absorbent material free areas, for example at least 3, or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 6.

The channel-forming areas 26 extend substantially longitudinally, which means typically that each area extends at least as much in the longitudinal direction as in the transverse direction, and typically at least twice as much in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction (as measured after projection on the respective axis). The channel-forming areas 26 may have a length L′ projected on the longitudinal axis 80 of the article that is at least 10% of the length L of the absorbent article, in particular from 20% to 80%. The channel-forming areas 26 may be for example have a length L′ of at least 2 cm as measured on the longitudinal axis, or at least 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, or 10 cm, and for example up to 40 cm, or 30 cm. It may be advantageous that at least some or all of the area(s) 26 are not completely or substantially completely transversely oriented channels in the core. Shorter area(s) substantially free of absorbent material may also be present, for example in the back region or the front region of the core, as seen for example in the Figures of WO2012/170778.

The channel-forming areas 26 may comprise or consists of a pair of areas 26 a, 26 b symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis 80 of the article as shown in the Figures. The channel-forming areas 26 may be completely oriented longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis but also may be curved. In particular some or all these areas, in particular these areas present in the crotch region of the article, may be concave towards the longitudinal axis 80, as for example represented in FIG. 1. The radius of curvature may typically be at least equal (and preferably at least 1.5 or at least 2.0 times this average transverse dimension) to the average transverse dimension of the absorbent material deposition area 8; and also straight but under an angle of (e.g. from 5°) up to 30°, or for example up to 20°, or up to 10° with a line parallel to the longitudinal axis. The radius of curvature may be constant for a substantially absorbent material free area(s), or may vary along its length. This may also includes area(s) substantially free of absorbent material with an angle therein, provided said angle between two parts of a channel is at least 120°, preferably at least 150°; and in any of these cases, provided the longitudinal extension of the area is more than the transverse extension. These area(s) may also be branched, for example a central substantially material free area superposed with the longitudinal axis in the crotch region which branches towards the back and/or towards the front of the article.

Possibly, the channel-forming area 26 do not coincide with the longitudinal axis 80 of the article. In this way, the wetness indicator 100 may overlapping or be centered with the longitudinal axis 80. The channel-forming areas, in particular when present as one or more symmetrical pair(s) relative to the longitudinal axis, may be spaced apart from one another over their whole longitudinal dimension. The smallest spacing distance may be for example at least 5 mm, or at least 10 mm, or at least 16 mm, leaving sufficient space there between for the wetness indicator.

Furthermore, in order to reduce the risk of fluid leakages, the areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material may advantageously not extend up to any of the edges of the absorbent material deposition area 8, and are therefore surrounded by and fully encompassed within the absorbent material deposition area 8 of the core. Typically, the smallest distance between an area(s) substantially free of absorbent material and the closest edge of the absorbent material deposition area is at least 5 mm.

Each area substantially free of absorbent material may have a width Wc along at least part of its length which is at least 2 mm, or at least 3 mm or at least 4 mm, up to for example 20 mm, or 16 mm or 12 mm. The width Wc of each channel-forming area 26 may be constant through substantially its whole length or may vary along its length.

The channels 26′ in the absorbent core start forming when the absorbent material absorbs a liquid such as urine and starts swelling. As the core absorbs more liquid, the depressions within the absorbent core formed by channels will become deeper and more apparent to the eye and the touch from the exterior of the article as the backsheet is pushed outwardly by the expending absorbent material, as illustrated in FIG. 3. If the core wrap bond is sufficiently strong and the level of SAP not too high, it is possible that the core wrap bonds 27 remain permanent until complete saturation of the absorbent material. On the other hand, the core wrap bonds may in some cases also restrict the swelling of the absorbent material when the core is substantially loaded. The inventors have thus found that the core wrap bond 27 may also be designed to open in a controlled manner when exposed to a large amount of fluid. The bonds may thus remain substantially intact at least during a first phase as the absorbent material absorbs a moderate quantity of fluid. In a second phase the core wrap bonds 27 in the channels can start opening to provide more space for the absorbent material to swell while keeping most of the benefits of the channels such as increased flexibility of the core in transversal direction and fluid management. In a third phase, corresponding to a very high saturation of the absorbent core, a more substantial part of the channel bonds can open to provide even more space for the swelling absorbent material to expand. The strength of core wrap bond 27 within the channels can be controlled for example by varying the amount and nature of the glue used for the attaching the two sides of the core wrap, the pressure used to make the core wrap bond and/or the distribution of the absorbent material, as more absorbent material will usually causes more swelling and will put more pressure on the bond. The extensibility of the material of the core wrap may also play a role.

Wetness Indicator 100

The absorbent article 20 comprises a wetness indicator 100 which is visible from the exterior of the article and which changes appearance when contacted with a body exudates, in particular urine. The wetness indicator 100 may be placed, when seen from the exterior of the article, between the two channel-forming areas 26 a,b, and/or between any of the channel-forming areas 26 a, 26 b and any of the lateral edge 13, 14 or both.

As indicated in the preamble of this specification, the inventors have surprisingly found that due to the excellent wet fit properties of the cores of the invention, the caregivers may not recognize that it is time to change the diapers. Even if the caregiver learns to associate the presence of channels with a fluid loading of the absorbent core, as indicated above, upon a large amount of loading, the bonds forming the channels may completely open and the channels disappear. The caregiver may in this configuration also wrongly believe that the absorbent core has not started absorbing a fluid as the channels are no longer visible. The wetness indicator serves the role of alerting the wearer that the article has been soiled and may need changing.

The inventors have found that placing the wetness indicator between the channel-forming areas 26 and/or between any of these areas 26 and any of the lateral edges 13, 14 of the article has several advantages. If the wetness indicator was placed directly in contact with any of the channels, it may react immediately after a modest first fluid insult as the channel-forming areas 26 may typically be directly in contact with the acquisition and/or distribution layer and thus the insulting fluid. By placing the wetness indicator 100 outside the channel-forming areas 26 a,b, the wetness indicator will only react after some fluid has been absorbed by the absorbent core. As the wetness indicator may further typically be placed towards the bottom side of the core, in particular between the bottom side of the core and the internal surface of the backsheet 25, this may ensure that the wetness indicator does not react prematurely.

The wetness indicator 100 may be placed between two channel-forming areas 26 a, 26 b, when seen from the exterior of the article, as exemplarily shown on FIG. 8, or between any of the lateral edges 13, 14 of the article and any of the channel-forming areas 26 a, b, as exemplarily shown on FIG. 10, or both, as shown on FIG. 11, when seen from the exterior of the article. By “as seen from the exterior of the article” it is means that although the wetness indicator 100 may or may not be placed directly in the plane of the channel-forming areas 26 or even within the core 28, when considering the article 20 from the outside, that is typically looking at the outward surface of the backsheet as shown on FIG. 8, the wetness indicator seems placed between the channel-forming areas 26. As the channels 26′ are typically visible from the outside of the article when the article is sufficiently loaded with urine, as shown in FIG. 9, the wetness indicator also typically appears placed between the channels 26′ in the loaded article when seen from the exterior of the article. The word “seems” should be construed herein in a broad sense, as in some embodiments, the wetness indicator may comprise or consists of an appearing signal or a disappearing signal, so that the wetness indicator is only visible to an observer in the wet or dry state, as will be exemplified further below.

The wetness indicator 100 may be placed between the two channel-forming areas 26 a, 26 b. If the channel-forming-areas 26 a, 26 b are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis 80, it can be advantageous to have the wetness indicator 100 centered on or at least close to the longitudinal axis 80 of the article as illustrated on FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9, when the article becomes wet, the expanding absorbent material 60 between the channels 26′a, 26′b may then bulge out towards the exterior of the article and be more easily visible than regions of the article close or in contact with the channels.

On the other hand, the wetness indicator may also be placed between any of the lateral edges 13, 14 of the article and any of the channel-forming areas 26 a, b, as illustrated on FIG. 10. A first wetness indicator 100 a may thus be placed between a first lateral side 13 of the article and a first channel-forming area 26, and/or a second wetness indicator 100 b between a second lateral side 14 and a second channel-forming area 26 b, when seen from the exterior of the article. The inventors have found that in some cases, when the article is relatively highly loaded with liquid, the central area between the channels may be pushed inwardly by the absorbent material comprised between each channel and the corresponding lateral edge of the articles. In this case it may be beneficial to have a wetness indicator 100 a, 100 b between a lateral edge and the closest channel-forming area, possibly a wetness indicator between each lateral edge and each closest channel as shown in FIG. 10. It is also possible to combine these side wetness indicators 100 a, 100 b with a third central wetness indicator 100 placed between the channel-forming areas 26 a, 26 b as exemplarily shown in FIG. 11.

Having discussed the possible placements of the wetness indicators, examples of possible wetness indicator are provided below. The wetness indicators of the present invention may be according to any wetness indicating system known in the art. It is known that wetness indicator can provide an appearing signal, a disappearing signal or a color change signal, and of course combinations thereof. An appearing signal will typically not be visible or more generally perceivable in the dry article, and becomes visible or otherwise perceivable when the article is wet. An appearing signal may for example be provided by a composition which is transparent or having a color that matches the color of the backsheet material, which is typically white, in its dry state, and then changes to a different color when contacted with urine. Other appearing wetness indicator may also be elements capable of providing a physical sensation indicating a fullness level of the absorbent assembly. Examples of such elements are disclosed in WO2008132630 and include a temperature change element (cooling or heating element), a pressure-inducing element or a foam-producing element.

The wetness indicator of the invention may also provide a disappearing signal when the article is wet. A disappearing signal may be provided by a composition that a first color when dry and which changes to a second color that matches the general color of the backsheet or any graphic printed on the backsheet, so that the second color is less discernible that the first color on the article. Such a disappearing signal may be provided for example by a composition comprising a dye that dissolves in urine and thus fades as the article is wetted.

The wetness indicator may advantageously provide a color change signal, which may be typically obtained by a composition having a first color when dry and a second color different form the first color when wet, both colors being discernible by an external observer considering the article in a dry and a wet state. The wetness indicator may in particular be a color change composition comprising a suitable pH indicator or another chemical substance that changes color when contacted with urine. Such compositions are for example disclosed in WO03/070138A2, WO2010/120705 (Klofta) or US2012/165771 (Ruman). The documents cited previously give several examples of such suitable pH indicator, which for example include bromocresol green, bromocresol purple, bromophenol blue, m-cresol purple, cresol red, chlorophenol red, bromothymol blue, bromopyrogallol red, bromoxylenol blue, acridine, or acridine orange, thymolphthalein, thymol blue, xylenol blue, bromochlorophenol blue and indigo carmine. Bromocresol green for example may be applied in a composition having an acid stabilizer so that the pH indicator appears yellow on a dry article and turns to a green-blue shade when contacted with urine, the typical pH of urine being around pH 7.

More generally, the wetness indicator compositions of the invention may be as disclosed in WO2010/120705 (Klofta) and comprises a colorant, a matrix and a stabilizer. The colorant has an initial color state, which is associated with a first state of the wetness indicator composition. Examples of this first color state include, but are not limited to, colors visible to the human eye, such as, red, blue, green, indigo, violet, yellow, orange, purple, and the like; colors not visible to the human eye, such as, colors visible in the ultra violet (or UV), or infra red (or IR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the like. The first color state may be invisible, white, black, translucent or opaque. The colorant(s) also has a final color state, which is associated with a second state of the wetness indicator composition. Examples of this second color state include, but are not limited to, colors visible to the human eye, such as, red, blue, green, indigo, violet, yellow, orange, purple, and the like; colors not visible to the human eye, such as, colors visible in the UV, or IR portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the like. The second color state may be invisible, white, black, translucent, opaque, or have a change in intensity or visual distinctiveness, and the like, when compared to the first color state. The initial color state of the colorant is different, in some form, to the final color state. For example, the initial color state may be a first color, such as, yellow, while the second color state may be a different color, such as blue; or the initial color state may be a first color, such as, blue, while the second color state may be transparent, such as, a color not visible to the human eye, and only visible in the UV portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In an optional embodiment of the present invention the wetness indicator composition may comprise two or more colorants. The colorant may be employed in compositions at levels which are effective at indicating the presence of a liquid, and include from about 0.001% to about 5%, from about 0.005% to about 2%, and from about 0.01% to about 1%, and even from 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of the composition.

The compositions of the present invention may comprise a matrix which acts to hold the colorant in place before, during and after contact with liquid. The matrix of the present invention may be highly resistant to colorant leaching, and may be resistant to premature activation in high humidity environments. Upon contact with liquid, such as urine, menses, blood or the like, the matrix allows sufficient liquid to contact the colorant and effect a change in appearance. The matrix concurrently aids in inhibiting the colorant, in either its initial color state or final color state, from leaching out of the matrix into the surrounding environment, such as, the absorbent core of a disposable absorbent article. When the wetness indicating composition is attached to a substrate, the matrix and consequently the composition, should have sufficient wet and dry cohesion, adhesion, and/or flexibility to remain fully retained on the substrate. In other words, the composition retains sufficient flexibility, cohesion, and adhesion to prevent portions of the composition from separating, such as, portions of the composition chipping off or flaking off from the rest of the composition and/or the substrate. Thus, the matrix aids in not only preserving and inhibiting the leaching of the colorant, but it also aids in maintaining the structural integrity of the wetness indicator composition in both the dry and wet states. Such a matrix may include a first and second binding agents, as disclosed in details in WO2010/120705 and may be employed in wetness indicator compositions at levels which are effective at immobilizing and stabilizing the colorant, including from about 5% to about 95%, from about 10% to about 80%, and from about 25% to about 75%, by weight of the composition.

The first binding agent may be any material which immobilizes the colorant when the colorant is in its initial color state. There are various materials which may be suitable for use as the first binding agent for the wetness indicating compositions of the present invention. The material selected as the first binding agent will be any material which immobilizes the colorant when in its first color state. In one embodiment of the present invention, possible first binding agents include, but are not limited to, rosins, rosin esters, polymerized rosins, pentaerythritol rosin esters, styrenated terpenes, polyterpene resins, terpene phenolics, and combinations thereof. The first binding agent may be employed in compositions at levels which are effective at immobilizing and stabilizing the colorant in its first state, including from about 4% to about 90%, from about 10% to about 75%, and from about 20% to about 65%, by weight of the composition.

The second binding agent may be any material which immobilizes the colorant when the colorant is in its final color state. There are various materials which may be suitable for use as the second binding agent for the wetness indicating compositions of the present invention. The second binding agents may be selected from, but are not limited to those second binding agents disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,865 to Klofta. The second binding agent may be selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salt compounds, cationic clay, polyacrylic acid polymers, organic acids, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable quaternary ammonium compounds include, but are not limited to, dimethyl(2-ethylhexylhydrogenatedtallowalkyl) ammonium methyl sulfate, cocoalkylmethyl[ethoxylated(15)] ammonium chloride, dodecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, octadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, dicocoalkyldimethly ammonium chloride, di(hydrogenated tallowalkyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride, and distearyldimethyl ammonium chloride. It should be noted that the counter anion associated with the quaternary compound, or any second binding agent having one or more cationic group, is not specifically limited to chloride. Other anions can also be employed and non-limiting examples include methyl sulfate and nitrite. Similarly, any suitable counter cation, such as, but not limited to, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, protons, ammonium, substituted ammonium and the like, may be associated with a second binding agent having one or more anionic groups.

Wetness indicator compositions of the present invention may further include a stabilizer, as detailed e.g. in WO2010/120705. It may be desirable to include a stabilizer when the colorant is a pH indicator and when the absorbent article could be stored under conditions of high humidities and temperatures. The inclusion of a stabilizer within the wetness indicator composition is also especially important for new diaper designs where materials and/or chemicals are present that could potentially prematurely activate the color change of the colorant within the wetness indicator composition. The stabilizer may be an acidic or a basic stabilizer The inclusion of a stabilizer, while not wishing to be limited by theory, is believed to play a role in stabilizing the colorant against premature changes caused by exposure to humid environments and/or certain components of the diaper, by maintaining a stable pH, such as a low pH environment with an acidic stabilizer, around the colorant even when the system is exposed to high humidities and/or certain components of the diaper. This maintenance of a stable pH environment keeps the colorant, especially when the colorant is a pH indicator, in its initial dry color state. The stabilizer, when present is typically employed in compositions at levels which are effective at stabilizing the colorant, from about 0.001% to about 30%, from about 0.1% to about 15%, and also from about 1% to about 10%, by weight of the composition.

The color change composition may further be a hot-melt adhesive, which allows for an easy application of the composition on a substrate component of the article for example by a slot coating process or printed adhesive coating as disclosed e.g. in US2011274834 (Brown). A hot melt adhesive composition may typically become fluid at a temperature of above 60° C. and solidifies when it touches the substrate on which it is applied as it cools down. Hot-melt adhesives may include one or more polymers to provide cohesive strength (e.g., aliphatic polyolefins such as ethylene-propylene copolymers, polyetheramides, polyetheresters, and combinations thereof; ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers; styrene-butadiene or styrene-isoprene block copolymers; etc.), a resin or analogous material (sometimes called a tackifier) to provide adhesive strength (e.g., hydrocarbons distilled from petroleum distillates; rosins and/or rosin esters; terpenes derived, for example, from wood or citrus, etc.); and optional waxes, plasticizers or other materials to modify viscosity (e.g., mineral oil, polybutene, paraffin oils, ester oils, and the like), and/or other additives including, but not limited to, antioxidants or other stabilizers. The matrix may comprise a first and a second binding agent. The matrix acts to hold the colorant in place before, during and after contact with liquid.

More generally, hot-melt wetness indicators of the invention (HMWI) may comprise a pH sensitive colorant (pH Indicator), a water insoluble component (resin/tackifier), a wetting agent (polymer, surfactant), a stabilizing agent (acid), a rheology modifier and anti-oxidants for example in the following range in weight percent:

pH Indicator (e.g. Bromocresol green) <0.5 Tackifier 25-45 Surfactant 10-20 Water-soluble polymer 00-10 Fatty acids 30-50 Plasticizer 00-10

The wetness indicator composition may be applied on any layer of the absorbent article using a conventional technique, for example printing, spraying or coating, during the making of the absorbent article. The layer may advantageously be the inner surface of the backsheet or the outer surface of the bottom side of the core wrap. This allows the wetness indicator to be visible from the exterior of the article by transparency through the backsheet while keeping the wetness indicator composition within the article. The wetness indicator may in particular be easily applied on a layer such a nonwoven or film by a slot-coating process especially if the composition is can be applied as a hot-melt. The slot-coating process allows applying a well-defined slot or a series of slots extending in the machine direction of the converting line, which is typically parallel to the longitudinal direction of the article. Such a slot 100 of wetness indicator composition is for example shown on FIG. 1.

The wetness indicator may be smaller, longer or of equal size in the longitudinal direction relative to the channel-forming areas 26. It may be typically advantageous to have a relatively long wetness indicator, for example at least 10 cm long, so as to give to the caregiver a better indication of the amount or repartition of the fluid in the article.

Auxiliary Glue(s) 71, 72

The absorbent core of the invention may further comprise an auxiliary glue 71, 72 present on the inner surface of the top side 16 and/or the bottom side 16′ of the core wrap. The auxiliary glue may help immobilizing the SAP within the core wrap, ensure integrity of core wrap and/or form the core wrap bond 27 attaching the bottom side of the core wrap to the top side of the core wrap through the areas 26 substantially free of absorbent material.

The auxiliary glue 71, 72 can be applied on the inner surface of the top side (first nonwoven 16) and/or the bottom side (second nonwoven 16′) of the core wrap. The auxiliary glue may be any conventional glue used in the field, in particular hotmelt glue. Typical hotmelt glues may be based on an adhesive polymer such SIS (Styrene-Isoprene-Block Co-Polymer), SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Block Co-polymer) or mPO (metalocine Polyolefine). The glue may also comprise a tackifier such as a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, as well as an oil and an antioxidant. Hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins are made from mixed aromatic/aliphatic resins which are subsequently selectively hydrogenated to produce a wide range of materials with low color, high stability and broad compatibility. Examples of commercially available adhesives are available as HL1358LO and NW1286 (both from HB Fuller) and DM 526 (from Henkel).

The auxiliary glue may be applied on the internal surface of the top side and/or the bottom side of the core wrap in an average basis weight ranging from 2 gsm to 20 gsm, more particularly from 4 gsm to 10 gsm. The auxiliary glue may be uniformly applied, or discontinuously, in particular as a series of stripes regularly spaced and longitudinally oriented, for example a series of auxiliary glue stripes of about 1 mm width spaced from each other by a distance raging from 1 mm to 3 mm. The auxiliary glue may help forming the core wrap bond 27 if sufficient pressure and auxiliary glue is applied within the material free area 26 to attach both sides of the core wrap. The auxiliary glue layer may be applied to the inner surface of the bottom side, the inner surface of the top side, or both inner surfaces of the core wrap.

Microfiber Glue 51

The absorbent core may also comprise a fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material 51, in particular a microfiber glue, to further immobilize the absorbent material within the core. The fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material 51 may be useful to immobilize the layer of absorbent materials 61, 62 to their respective substrate, in particular when the absorbent layer(s) comprises land areas separated by junction areas, as indicated above. The fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material 51 may then be at least partially in contact with the absorbent material 61, 62 in the land areas and at least partially in contact with the substrate layer 16, 16′ in the junction areas. This imparts an essentially three-dimensional net-like structure to the fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material 51, which in itself is essentially a two-dimensional structure of relatively small thickness, as compared to the dimension in length and width directions. Thereby, the fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material may provide cavities to cover the absorbent material in the land areas, and thereby immobilizes this absorbent material. The microfiber glue 51 may be for example applied by spraying each absorbent layer.

The thermoplastic polymer may typically have a molecular weight (Mw) of more than 10,000 and a glass transition temperature (Tg) usually below room temperature or −6° C.<Tg<16° C. Typical concentrations of the polymer in a hotmelt are in the range of about 20 to about 40% by weight. The thermoplastic polymers may be water insensitive. Exemplary polymers are (styrenic) block copolymers including A-B-A triblock structures, A-B diblock structures and (A-B)n radial block copolymer structures wherein the A blocks are non-elastomeric polymer blocks, typically comprising polystyrene, and the B blocks are unsaturated conjugated diene or (partly) hydrogenated versions of such. The B block is typically isoprene, butadiene, ethylene/butylene (hydrogenated butadiene), ethylene/propylene (hydrogenated isoprene), and mixtures thereof. Other suitable thermoplastic polymers that may be employed are metallocene polyolefins, which are ethylene polymers prepared using single-site or metallocene catalysts. Therein, at least one comonomer can be polymerized with ethylene to make a copolymer, terpolymer or higher order polymer. Also applicable are amorphous polyolefins or amorphous polyalphaolefins (APAO) which are homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers of C2 to C8 alpha olefins.

The tackifying resin may exemplarily have a Mw below 5,000 and a Tg usually above room temperature, typical concentrations of the resin in a hotmelt are in the range of about 30 to about 60%, and the plasticizer has a low Mw of typically less than 1,000 and a Tg below room temperature, with a typical concentration of about 0 to about 15%.

The thermoplastic adhesive used for the fibrous layer preferably has elastomeric properties, such that the web formed by the fibers on the SAP layer is able to be stretched as the SAP swell. Exemplary elastomeric, hotmelt adhesives include thermoplastic elastomers such as ethylene vinyl acetates, polyurethanes, polyolefin blends of a hard component (generally a crystalline polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene) and a Soft component (such as ethylene-propylene rubber); copolyesters such as poly (ethylene terephthalate-co-ethylene azelate); and thermoplastic elastomeric block copolymers having thermoplastic end blocks and rubbery mid blocks designated as A-B-A block copolymers: mixtures of structurally different homopolymers or copolymers, e.g., a mixture of polyethylene or polystyrene with an A-B-A block copolymer; mixtures of a thermoplastic elastomer and a low molecular weight resin modifier, e.g., a mixture of a styrene-isoprenestyrene block copolymer with polystyrene; and the elastomeric, hot-melt, pressure-sensitive adhesives described herein. Elastomeric, hot-melt adhesives of these types are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,066 (Korpman).

The thermoplastic adhesive material 51 fibers may exemplarily have an average thickness of about 1 to about 50 micrometers or about 1 to about 35 micrometers and an average length of about 5 mm to about 50 mm or about 5 mm to about 30 mm. To improve the adhesion of the thermoplastic adhesive material to the substrate or to any other layer, in particular any other nonwoven layer, such layers may be pre-treated with an auxiliary adhesive. The fibers adhere to each other to form a fibrous layer, which can also be described as a mesh.

The absorbent core advantageously achieve an SAP loss of no more than about 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% according to the Wet Immobilization Test described in US2010/0051166A1.

Topsheet 24

The topsheet 24 is the layer of the absorbent article that is destined to be in contact with the wearer's skin. The topsheet 24 can be joined to the backsheet 25, the core 28 and/or any other layers as is known in the art. Usually, the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 25 may be joined directly to each other on or close to the periphery of the article and are indirectly joined together in other locations by directly joining them to one or more other elements of the article 20. The topsheet may be attached to an underlying layer 54, which may be an acquisition and/or distribution layer, by any conventional means, in particular gluing, mechanical or heat bonding and combinations thereof. The topsheet may in particular be attached directly or indirectly to the fibrous layer 54 in the area where the ditches of the fibrous layer are formed, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7. This may provide or help the formation of secondary ditches 29 at the surface of the article.

The topsheet 24 is preferably compliant, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. Further, at least a portion of the topsheet 24 is liquid permeable, permitting liquids to readily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet may be manufactured from a wide range of materials, such as porous foams, reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or woven or nonwoven materials of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers or filaments (e.g., polyester or polypropylene or bicomponent PE/PP fibers or mixtures thereof), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. If the topsheet includes fibers, the fibers may be spunbond, carded, wet-laid, meltblown, hydroentangled, or otherwise processed as is known in the art, in particular spunbond PP nonwoven. A suitable topsheet comprising a web of staple-length polypropylene fibers is manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a Division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Mass. under the designation P-8.

Suitable formed film topsheets are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,135, U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,246, U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,314, U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,045, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,394. Other suitable topsheets may be made in accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,609,518 and 4,629,643 issued to Curro et al. Such formed films are available from The Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio as “DRI-WEAVE” and from Tredegar Corporation, based in Richmond, Va., as “CLIFF-T”.

Any portion of the topsheet 24 may be coated with a lotion as is known in the art. Examples of suitable lotions include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,760, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,587, U.S. Pat. No. 5,635, U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,588, U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,025 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,441. The topsheet 24 may also include or be treated with antibacterial agents, some examples of which are disclosed in PCT Publication WO95/24173. Further, the topsheet 24, the backsheet 25 or any portion of the topsheet or backsheet may be embossed and/or matte finished to provide a more cloth like appearance.

The topsheet 24 may comprise one or more apertures to ease penetration of exudates therethrough, such as urine and/or feces (solid, semi-solid, or liquid). The size of at least the primary aperture is important in achieving the desired waste encapsulation performance. If the primary aperture is too small, the waste may not pass through the aperture, either due to poor alignment of the waste source and the aperture location or due to fecal masses having a diameter greater than the aperture. If the aperture is too large, the area of skin that may be contaminated by “rewet” from the article is increased. Typically, the total area of the apertures at the surface of a diaper may have an area of between about 10 cm² and about 50 cm², in particular between about 15 cm² and 35 cm². Examples of apertured topsheet are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,504, assigned to BBA NONWOVENS SIMPSONVILLE. WO2011/163582 also discloses suitable colored topsheet having a basis weight of from 12 to 18 gsm and comprising a plurality of bonded points. Each of the bonded points has a surface area of from 2 mm² to 5 mm² and the cumulated surface area of the plurality of bonded points is from 10 to 25% of the total surface area of the topsheet.

Typical diaper topsheets have a basis weight of from about 10 to about 28 gsm, in particular between from about 12 to about 18 gsm but other basis weights are possible.

Backsheet 25

The backsheet 25 is generally that portion of the absorbent article 20 which forms the majority of the external surface of the article when worn by the user. The backsheet is positioned towards the bottom side of the absorbent core and prevents the exudates absorbed and contained therein from soiling articles such as bedsheets and undergarments. The backsheet 25 is typically impermeable to liquids (e.g. urine). The backsheet may for example be or comprise a thin plastic film such as a thermoplastic film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm to about 0.051 mm. Exemplary backsheet films include those manufactured by Tredegar Corporation, based in Richmond, Va., and sold under the trade name CPC2 film. Other suitable backsheet materials may include breathable materials which permit vapors to escape from the diaper 20 while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet 25. Exemplary breathable materials may include materials such as woven webs, nonwoven webs, composite materials such as film-coated nonwoven webs, microporous films such as manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Co., of Japan under the designation ESPOIR NO and by Tredegar Corporation of Richmond, Va., and sold under the designation EXAIRE, and monolithic films such as manufactured by Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio under the name HYTREL blend P18-3097. Some breathable composite materials are described in greater detail in PCT Application No. WO 95/16746 published on Jun. 22, 1995 in the name of E. I. DuPont; U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,648 to LaVon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,793 to Linman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,823 to Curro; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,096 to Dobrin et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,585B2 to London Brown.

The backsheet 25 may be joined to the topsheet 24, the absorbent core 28 or any other element of the diaper 20 by any attachment means known in the art. Suitable attachment means are described above with respect to means for joining the topsheet 24 to other elements of the article 20. For example, the attachment means may include a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, or an array of separate lines, spirals, or spots of adhesive. Suitable attachment means comprises an open pattern network of filaments of adhesive as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,986. Other suitable attachment means include several lines of adhesive filaments which are swirled into a spiral pattern, as is illustrated by the apparatus and methods shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,173, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,996; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,666. Adhesives which have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minn. and marketed as HL-1620 and HL 1358-XZP. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, or any other suitable attachment means or combinations of these attachment means as are known in the art.

Additional Layer 54

The absorbent article may further comprise one or more additional layer 54 that can serve to acquire and distribute the fluid, as illustrate by layer 54 in the Figures. The additional layer(s) may be present between the topsheet 24 and the absorbent core 28, as represented in the Figures, but it may be also between the backsheet 25 and the absorbent core 28, or both. The additional layer 54 may be at least partially bonded to the top side or the bottom side of the core wrap in the area(s) substantially free of absorbent material. The formation of the channel 26′ in the absorbent core as the absorbent material swells may thus provides of one or more corresponding ditches 27 in the additional layer 54.

The additional layer(s) may be of any kind such as nonwoven, a woven material or even loose fibers. The additional layers may in particular be of the type known in the art for acquisition layers and/or distribution layers. Typical acquisition and/or distribution layers do not comprise SAP as this may slow the acquisition and distribution of the fluid, but an additional layer may also comprise SAP if some fluid retention properties are wished. The prior art discloses many type of acquisition and/or distribution layers that may be used, see for example WO2000/59430 (Daley), WO95/10996 (Richards), U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,254 (McDowall), WO02/067809 (Graef).

A distribution layer can spread an insulting fluid liquid over a larger surface within the article so that the absorbent capacity of the core can be more efficiently used. Typically distribution layers are made of a nonwoven material based on synthetic or cellulosic fibers and having a relatively low density. The density of the distribution layer may vary depending on the compression of the article, but may typically range from 0.03 to 0.25 g/cm³, in particular from 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm³ measured at 0.30 psi (2.07 kPa). The distribution layer may also be a material having a water retention value of from 25 to 60, preferably from 30 to 45, measured as indicated in the procedure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,537. The distribution layer may typically have an average basis weight of from 30 to 400 g/m², in particular from 100 to 300 g/m².

The distribution layer may for example comprise at least 50% by weight of cross-linked cellulose fibers. The cross-linked cellulosic fibers may be crimped, twisted, or curled, or a combination thereof including crimped, twisted, and curled. This type of material has been used in the past in disposable diapers as part of an acquisition system, for example US 2008/0312622 A1 (Hundorf). The cross-linked cellulosic fibers provide higher resilience and therefore higher resistance to the first absorbent layer against the compression in the product packaging or in use conditions, e.g. under a baby's weight. This provides the core with a higher void volume, permeability and liquid absorption, and hence reduced leakage and improved dryness.

Exemplary chemically cross-linked cellulosic fibers suitable for a distribution layer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,791, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,537, WO9534329 or US2007/118087. Exemplary cross-linking agents include polycarboxylic acids such as citric acid and/or polyacrylic acids such as acrylic acid and maleic acid copolymers.

The absorbent article may also comprise an acquisition layer as additional layer, whose function can be to quickly acquire the fluid away from the topsheet so as to provide a good dryness for the wearer. Such an acquisition layer is typically placed directly under the topsheet. The absorbent article may also then comprise a distribution layer typically placed between the acquisition layer and the absorbent core.

The acquisition layer may typically be or comprise a non-woven material, for example a SMS or SMMS material, comprising a spunbonded, a melt-blown and a further spunbonded layer or alternatively a carded chemical-bonded nonwoven. The non-woven material may in particular be latex bonded. Exemplary upper acquisition layers 52 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,341. Carded, resin-bonded nonwovens may be used, in particular where the fibers used are solid round or round and hollow PET staple fibers (50/50 or 40/60 mix of 6 denier and 9 denier fibers). An exemplary binder is a butadiene/styrene latex. Non-wovens have the advantage that they can be manufactured outside the converting line and stored and used as a roll of material. Further useful non-wovens are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,569, U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,933 (both to Cramer), U.S. Pa. No. 7,112,621 (Rohrbaugh), and co patent applications US2003/148684 to Cramer et al. and US2005/008839 (both to Cramer).

Such an acquisition layer 52 may be stabilized by a latex binder, for example a styrene-butadiene latex binder (SB latex). Processes for obtaining such lattices are known, for example, from EP 149 880 (Kwok) and US 2003/0105190 (Diehl et al.). In certain embodiments, the binder may be present in the acquisition layer 52 in excess of about 12%, about 14% or about 16% by weight. SB latex is available under the trade name GENFLO™ 3160 (OMNOVA Solutions Inc.; Akron, Ohio).

A further acquisition layer may be used in addition to a first acquisition layer described above. For example a tissue layer may be placed between the first acquisition layer and the distribution layer. The tissue may have enhanced capillarity distribution properties compared to the acquisition layer described above. The tissue and the first acquisition layer may be of the same size or may be of different size, for example the tissue layer may extend further in the back of the absorbent article than the first acquisition layer. An example of hydrophilic tissue is a 13-22.5 gsm high wet strength made of cellulose fibers from supplier Havix.

If an acquisition layer is present, it may be advantageous that this acquisition layer is larger than or least as large as an underlying distribution layer in the longitudinal and/or transversal dimension. In this way the distribution layer can be deposited on the acquisition layer. This simplifies handling, in particular if the acquisition layer is a nonwoven which can be unrolled from a roll of stock material. The distribution layer may also be deposited directly on the absorbent core's upper side of the core wrap or another layer of the article. Also, an acquisition layer larger than the distribution layer allows to directly glue the acquisition layer to the storage core (at the larger areas). This can give increased patch integrity and better liquid communication.

Fastening System 42, 44

The absorbent article may include a fastening system, for example as is known in taped diapers. The fastening system can be used to provide lateral tensions about the circumference of the absorbent article to hold the absorbent article on the wearer as is typical for taped diapers. This fastening system is not necessary for training pant article since the waist region of these articles is already bonded. The fastening system usually comprises a fastener such as tape tabs, hook and loop fastening components, interlocking fasteners such as tabs & slots, buckles, buttons, snaps, and/or hermaphroditic fastening components, although any other known fastening means are generally acceptable. A landing zone is normally provided on the front waist region for the fastener to be releasably attached. Some exemplary surface fastening systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,594, U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,875, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,815, U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,060, U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,527, U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,092 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,274 issued to Buell. An exemplary interlocking fastening system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,098. The fastening system may also provide a means for holding the article in a disposal configuration as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,140 issued to Robertson et al.

The fastening system may also include primary and secondary fastening systems, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,622 to reduce shifting of overlapped portions or to improve fit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,436, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,978, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,736, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,152.

Barrier Leg Cuffs 34

The absorbent article may comprise a pair of barrier leg cuffs 34 and/or gasketing cuffs 32. U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 describes a disposable diaper which provides a contractible leg opening having a side flap and one or more elastic members to provide an elasticized leg cuff (a gasketing cuff). U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,178 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,803 issued to Aziz et al. describe disposable diapers having “stand-up” elasticized flaps (barrier leg cuffs) which improve the containment of the leg regions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,454 issued to Lawson and to Dragoo respectively, describe disposable diapers having dual cuffs, including gasketing cuffs and barrier leg cuffs. All or a portion of the barrier leg and/or gasketing cuffs may be treated with a lotion.

The barrier leg cuffs 34 can be formed from a piece of material, typically a nonwoven, which is partially bonded to the rest of the article so that a portion of the material, the barrier leg cuffs, can be partially raised away and stand up from the plane defined by the topsheet when the article is pulled flat as shown e.g. in FIG. 5. The barrier leg cuffs can provide improved containment of liquids and other body exudates approximately at the junction of the torso and legs of the wearer. The barrier leg cuffs extend at least partially between the front edge and the back edge of the diaper on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and are at least present at the longitudinal position of the crotch point (C). The barrier leg cuffs are delimited by a proximal edge 64 joined to the rest of the article, typically the topsheet and/or the backsheet, and a free terminal edge 66, which is intended to contact and form a seal with the wearer's skin. The barrier leg cuffs are joined at the proximal edge 64 with the chassis of the article by a bond 65 which may be made for example by gluing, fusion bonding or combination of known bonding means. The bond 65 at the proximal edge 64 may be continuous or intermittent. The side of the bond 65 closest to the raised section of the barrier leg cuffs 32 delimits the proximal edge 64 of the standing up section of the leg cuffs.

The barrier leg cuffs 32 can be integral with the topsheet or the backsheet, or more typically be formed from a separate material joined to the rest of the article. Typically the material of the barrier leg cuffs may extend through the whole length of the diapers but is “tack bonded” to the topsheet towards the front edge and back edge of the article so that in these sections the barrier leg cuff material remains flush with the topsheet. Each barrier leg cuff 34 may comprise one, two or more elastic strings 35 close to this free terminal edge 66 to provide a better seal.

In addition to the barrier leg cuffs 34, the article may comprise gasketing cuffs 32 joined to the chassis of absorbent article, in particular the topsheet and/or the backsheet and may be placed externally relative to the barrier leg cuffs. The gasketing cuffs can provide a better seal around the thighs of the wearer. Usually each gasketing leg cuff will comprise one or more elastic string or elastic element comprised in the chassis of the diaper for example between the topsheet and backsheet in the area of the leg openings.

Front and Back Ears 46, 40

The absorbent article may comprise front ears 46 and back ears 40 as is known in the art. The ears can be integral part of the chassis, for example formed from the topsheet and/or backsheet as side panel. Alternatively, as represented on FIG. 1, they may be separate elements attached by gluing and/or heat embossing or pressure bonding. The back ears 40 are advantageously stretchable to facilitate the attachment of the tabs 42 on the landing zone 40 and maintain the taped diapers in place around the wearer's waist. The back ears 40 may also be elastic or extensible to provide a more comfortable and contouring fit by initially conformably fitting the absorbent article to the wearer and sustaining this fit throughout the time of wear well past when absorbent article has been loaded with exudates since the elasticized ears allow the sides of the absorbent article to expand and contract.

Elastic Waist Feature

The absorbent article may also comprise at least one elastic waist feature (not represented) that helps to provide improved fit and containment. The elastic waist feature is generally intended to elastically expand and contract to dynamically fit the wearer's waist. The elastic waist feature preferably extends at least longitudinally outwardly from at least one waist edge of the absorbent core 28 and generally forms at least a portion of the end edge of the absorbent article. Disposable diapers can be constructed so as to have two elastic waist features, one positioned in the front waist region and one positioned in the back waist region. The elastic waist feature may be constructed in a number of different configurations including those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,595, U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,189, U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,092 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,274.

Method of making the Article—Relations between the Layers

The absorbent articles of the invention may be made by any conventional methods known in the art. In particular the articles may be hand-made or industrially produced at high speed. Typically, adjacent layers and components will be joined together using conventional bonding method such as adhesive coating via slot coating or spraying on the whole or part of the surface of the layer, or thermo-bonding, or pressure bonding or combinations thereof. This bonding is exemplarily represented for the bond between within the core wrap that defines the channel-forming area 26. Other glues or attachments are not represented for clarity and readability but typical bonding between the layers of the article should be considered to be present unless specifically excluded. Adhesives may be typically used to improve the adhesion of the different layers, for example between the backsheet and the core wrap. The glues used may be any standard hotmelt glue as known in the art.

The absorbent core 28 and in particular its absorbent material deposition area 8 may or may not be at least as large and long and advantageously at least partially larger and/or longer than a fibrous acquisition and/or distribution layer 54. This is because the absorbent material in the core can usually more effectively retain fluid and provide dryness benefits across a larger area than the fibrous layer 54. The absorbent article may have a rectangular SAP layer and a non-rectangular (shaped) fibrous layer. The absorbent article may also have a rectangular (non-shaped) fibrous layer and a rectangular layer of SAP.

Experimental Settings

Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC)

The CRC measures the liquid absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer particles for free swelling in excess liquid. The CRC is measured according to EDANA method WSP 241.2-05.

Dry Absorbent Core Caliper Test

This test may be used to measure the caliper of the absorbent core (before use i.e. without fluid loading) in a standardized manner at the crotch point C′ of the core or any other point.

Equipment: Mitutoyo manual caliper gauge with a resolution of 0.01 mm—or equivalent instrument.

Contact Foot: Flat circular foot with a diameter of 17.0 mm (±0.2 mm). A circular weight may be applied to the foot (e.g., a weight with a slot to facilitate application around the instrument shaft) to achieve the target weight. The total weight of foot and added weight (including shaft) is selected to provide 2.07 kPa (0.30 psi) of pressure to the sample.

The caliper gauge is mounted with the lower surface of the contact foot in an horizontal plane so that the lower surface of the contact foot contacts the center of the flat horizontal upper surface of a base plate approximately 20×25 cm. The gauge is set to read zero with the contact foot resting on the base plate.

Ruler: Calibrated metal ruler graduated in mm.

Stopwatch: Accuracy 1 second

Sample preparation: The core is conditioned at least 24 hours as indicated above.

Measurement procedure: The core is laid flat with the bottom side, i.e. the side intended to be placed towards the backsheet in the finished article facing down. The point of measurement (e.g. the crotch point C corresponding to this point in the finished article) is carefully drawn on the top side of the core taking care not to compress or deform the core.

The contact foot of the caliper gauge is raised and the core is placed flat on the base plate of the caliper gauge with the top side of the core up so that when lowered, the center of the foot is on the marked measuring point.

The foot is gently lowered onto the article and released (ensure calibration to “0” prior to the start of the measurement). The caliper value is read to the nearest 0.01 mm, 10 seconds after the foot is released.

The procedure is repeated for each measuring point. If there is a fold at the measuring point, the measurement is done in the closest area to this point but without any folds. Ten articles are measured in this manner for a given product and the average caliper is calculated and reported with an accuracy of one tenth mm.

Absorbent Article Caliper Test

The Absorbent Article Caliper Test can be performed as for the Dry Absorbent Core Caliper Test with the difference that the caliper of the finished absorbent article is measured instead of the caliper of the core. The point of measurement may any areas of the article, in particular the intersection of the longitudinal axis (80) and transversal axis (90) of the absorbent article or the crotch point C of the article. If the absorbent articles were provided folded and/or in a package, the articles to be measured are unfolded and/or removed from the center area of the package. If the package contains more than 4 articles, the outer most two articles on each side of the package are not used in the testing. If the package contains more than 4 but fewer than 14 articles, then more than one package of articles is required to complete the testing. If the package contains 14 or more articles, then only one package of articles is required to perform the testing. If the package contains 4 or fewer articles then all articles in the package are measured and multiple packages are required to perform the measurement. Caliper readings should be taken 24±1 hours after the article is removed from the package, unfolded and conditioned. Physical manipulation of product should be minimal and restricted only to necessary sample preparation.

Any elastic components of the article that prevent the article from being laid flat under the caliper foot are cut or removed. These may include leg cuffs or waistbands. Pant-type articles are opened or cut along the side seams as necessary. Apply sufficient tension to flatten out any folds/wrinkles Care is taken to avoid touching and/or compressing the area of measurement.

MISC

The term “joined” or “bonded” or “attached”, as used herein, encompasses configurations whereby an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element e.g. by gluing, and configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element.

“Comprise,” “comprising,” and “comprises” are open ended terms, each specifies the presence of what follows, e.g., a component, but does not preclude the presence of other features, e.g., elements, steps, components known in the art, or disclosed herein. These terms based on the verb “comprise” should be read as encompassing the narrower terms “consisting of” which excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified and “consisting essentially of” which limits the scope of an element to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the way the element performs its function. Any preferred or exemplary embodiments described below are not limiting the scope of the claims, unless specifically indicated to do so. The words “typically”, “normally”, “advantageously” and the likes also qualify elements which are not intended to limit the scope of the claims unless specifically indicated to do so.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An absorbent article having a front edge, a back edge and two longitudinally extending side edges, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet, and the absorbent core comprising a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material comprising superabsorbent polymer particles; wherein the core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side; wherein the absorbent core comprises at least two longitudinally extending channel-forming areas substantially free of absorbent material through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap, such that when the absorbent material swells upon absorption of a liquid, the core wrap forms channels along these areas substantially free of absorbent material; and wherein the absorbent article further comprises a wetness indicator placed between the two channel-forming areas and/or between any of the channel-forming areas and any of the longitudinally extending side edges of the article.
 2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the wetness indicator comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of an appearing signal, a disappearing signal, a color change signal, and a combination thereof.
 3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the wetness indicator comprises a composition that changes appearance when contacted with urine, the composition comprising a pH indicator and/or a water soluble dye.
 4. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the composition comprises a stabilizer, a colorant, and a matrix.
 5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the wetness indicator is placed between the bottom side of the core wrap and the inner surface of the backsheet.
 6. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the composition is slot coated or printed onto a component of the absorbent article.
 7. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the component is the inner surface of the backsheet.
 8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material comprises about 70% or more of superabsorbent polymer particles by weight of the absorbent material.
 9. The absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the absorbent material comprises from about 80% to about 100% of superabsorbent polymer particles, by weight of the absorbent material.
 10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article comprises from about 2 g to about 50 g of superabsorbent polymer particles.
 11. The absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the absorbent article comprises from about 5 g to about 25 g of superabsorbent polymer particles.
 12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least two channel-forming areas are symmetrically disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article.
 13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least two channel-forming areas each have a length projected on the longitudinal axis of the article which is about 10% or more of the length (L) of the absorbent article.
 14. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least two channel-forming areas each have a width in at least in some part of the channel-forming areas of about 2 mm or wider.
 15. The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the width of at least two channel-forming areas is from about 2 mm to about 20 mm.
 16. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the core wrap comprises a first nonwoven forming substantially the top side of the core wrap and a second nonwoven forming substantially the bottom side of the core wrap.
 17. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the first nonwoven forms a C-wrap seal around the second nonwoven.
 18. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the absorbent material within the core wrap defines an absorbent material deposition area, and wherein the absorbent material deposition area is either rectangular or is shaped with a width narrower at the crotch point than the maximum width of the absorbent material deposition area in the rest of the core, wherein the crotch point is defined as the point on the longitudinal axis of the core and placed at a distance of two-fifths of L from the front edge of the absorbent article, L being the length of the absorbent article measured along its longitudinal axis.
 19. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer, the first absorbent layer comprising a first substrate and a first layer of superabsorbent polymer particles, the second absorbent layer comprising a second substrate and a second layer of superabsorbent polymer particles, and a fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material at least partially bonding each layer of superabsorbent polymer particles to their respective substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate substantially forming the top side and the bottom side of core wrap.
 20. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article has a caliper measured at the core's crotch point of from about 0.2 to about 4 mm. 